No. 12 Gym’Backs second at Washington tri-meet

BY ANDRES FOCIL

Jump to agate SEATTLE, Wash. – The 12th-ranked University of Arkansas gymnastics team took second place at a tri-meet hosted by No. 19 Washington in the Bank of America Arena in Seattle, Wash., Friday. The Gym’Backs improved to 5-4 overall and are 2-2 in the SEC after scoring a 195.550 finishing just behind No. 21 Oregon State with a 195.975. Washington was third with a 195.275. Junior Katie Hardman won the balance beam competition with a 9.850. She was the lone individual winner for the Gym’Backs. “We know it’s hard to score on the road but overall we as a staff were pleased with the performances,” said co-head coach Rene Cook. “We wanted to test ourselves against both the travel and the opponents and I think we stepped up to the challenge.” The Gym’Backs held a slight lead, 146.800-146.700 edge over the Beavers heading into the final rotation but Oregon State scored a 49.275 on vault while Arkansas notched a 48.750 on bars to change positions. “It was close,” said Cook. “We had our changes and overall we’re pleased with our performances. We had a couple of people step up and fill roles they haven’t had to yet this year and everyone responded well.” The Gym’Backs had to make some last-minute adjustments to the lineup competing without freshman all-arounder Samantha Cortez. Cortez was limited to just the vault in an effort to rest an injury. Arkansas opened the meet on the beam, traditionally the team’s best event, scoring a 48.925. Junior Hannah McLeod paced the Gym’Backs with a season-best 9.80 after returning to the apparatus following a four-week injury absence. Hardman was high for the Gym’Backs with a 9.85 followed by sophomore Cassie Drew’s 9.825 but Arkansas trailed after the first rotation with the Huskies leading with a 49.175 on vault. OSU posted a 49.075 on the bars to start. Sophomore Rachel Barnett opened the second rotation on the floor for the Gym’Backs notching a 9.65 despite a solid routine. Junior Audra Loveless added a 9.725, followed by a 9.625 from freshman Emily Peacock. Freshman Mallory Machnik notched a season/career best equaling Hardman who stepped up with team-leading 9.875s giving Arkansas a 48.90. But Arkansas continued to trail the field after two rotations with the Beavers leading with a 97.975 followed by the host Huskies at 97.900. The Gym’Backs’ 97.825 was nipping on the heels of the competition with two events remaining. The Beavers managed four season-bests on both the bars and beam to start the meet. Arkansas moved to the vault with a season-best 48.975 on the event behind season/career bests from Cortez and Machnik. Loveless added a season-high 9.825 while Drew tied her 2005 best with a 9.725. The Gym’Backs emerged from the third rotation with a narrow, 146.800-146.700 lead but a season-best night from the Beavers on the vault handed Oregon State the win. Arkansas returns home hosting four of its last five meets in Barnhill Arena. The Gym’Backs welcome Southeastern Conference rival No. 6 Florida Friday, Feb. 18 at 7:00 p.m. For more information and tickets please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to LADYBACKS.COM.No. 12 Arkansas at No. 19 Washington Tri-Meet with No. 21 Oregon StateBank of America Arena, Seattle Washington, Friday, February 11, 2005No. 21 Oregon State 195.975No. 12 Arkansas 195.550No. 19 Washington 195.275ROTATION 1Arkansas (Beam) 48.925 (Dana McQuillin 9.70, Melissa Leigh 9.625, Emily Peacock 9.75, Cassie Drew 9.825, Hannah McLeod 9.80, Katie Hardman 9.85).Oregon State (Bars) 49.075 (Daylee Ingalls 9.65, Chelsea Plourde 9.30, Heidi Goehring 9.825, Lindsay Nelson 9.85, Therese Videan 9.90, Chrissy Lamun 9.85).Washington (Vault) 49.175 (Brittney Brabec 9.725, Chelsea Bakken 9.725, Nicole Waiss 9.850, Carly Dockendorf 9.85, Tacia LaBatte 9.825, Natalie Gillan 9.9).ROTATION 2Arkansas (Floor) 48.875 (Rachel Barnett 9.65, Audra Loveless 9.725, Emily Peacock 9.625, Dana McQuillin 9.775, Mallory Machnik 9.850, Katie Hardman 9.875).Oregon State (Beam) 48.90 (Angela Morales 9.775, Claire Peirce 9.725, Heidi Goehring 9.775, Daylee Ingalls 9.70, Chrissy Lamun 9.85, Chelsea Plourde 9.775).Washington (Bars) 48.725 (Brittney Brabec 9.80, Raimey Iselin 9.825, Kim Lewis 9.30, Kelly McDonald 9.35, Carly Dockendorf 9.90, Tacia LaBatte 9.85).ROTATION 3Arkansas (Vault) 48.975 (Cassie Drew 9.725, Dana McQuillin 9.675, Hannah McLeod 9.75, Mallory Machnik 9.825, Samantha Cortez 9.85, Audra Loveless 9.825).Oregon State (Floor) 48.725 (Claire Pierce 9.725, Heidi Goehring 9.80, Megan Devencenzi 9.675, Angela Morales 9.775, Chrissy Lamun 9.70, Therese Videan 9.725).Washington (Beam) 48.325 (Brittney Brabec 9.75, Julie Medeiros 9.275, Nicole Waiss 9.675, Carly Dockendorf 9.75, Kelly McDonald 9.325, Chelsea Bakken 9.825).ROTATION 4Arkansas (Bars) 48.750 (Dana McQuillin 9.725, Rachel Barnett 9.625, Cassie Drew 9.80, Katie Hardman 9.30, Melissa Leigh 9.825, Emily Peacock 9.775).Oregon State (Vault) 49.275 (Kim Sedlak 9.65, Therese Videan 9.825, Yuki Lamb 9.90, Daylee Ingalls 9.875, Megan Devencenzi 9.925, Angela Morales 9.75).Washington (Floor) 49.050 (Carly Dockendorf 9.925, Chelsea Bakken 9.875, Brittney Brabec 9.80, Lily Le 9.750, Raimey Iselin 9.70, Natalie Gillan 9.525).